"So this is the demon that defeated Kato's demon? Tut!" Bunjiro snorted, trying to belittle Kenji. "A Kuwatako of that level defeated by a weird… what is it? A Nekage?" he added.

Spreading its feline paws and stretching its tail backwards, Kenji got into a fighting stance. It bared its teeth, and its ruby-coloured eyes twinkled for an instant.

​​

"The weird, strange demon that was able to kick your ass in that Goldhaven alley. Do you remember that?" Yoichi replied, answering that taunt head-on.

Bunjiro's eyes grew dark. The helmet-haired boy's body language showed his hatred for Yoichi.

Although the young tamer had decided not to get to the bottom of the matter and not to pursue him, Bunjiro had never forgotten the moment when Yoichi had defeated him.

Yoichi could have revealed to everyone that hidden within the Emperor's Heralds was the one who had raped the princess of Tentochu, Emperor Shinzo's only daughter.

In doing so, he would put Shinzo in a challenging situation and be inevitably declared an outlaw. Yoichi thought that maybe that was the rightest thing to do, thinking back to the past and looking at the present.

"I should have killed you when I had the chance," Yoichi said again. "Taking advantage of a helpless girl just to satisfy your needs. Are you really sure your guild leader would have complimented you even if he knew what you did?"

Yoichi's provocations were aimed at angering his opponent. That way, Bunjiro would attack first, and he would have plenty of time to figure out his weaknesses.

The last time he had faced him, it was inside a narrow, dark place. Now, on the other hand, Bunjiro could fight and move freely in an ample, tree-lined space.

However, after his recent psychic and physical training, Yoichi's strength had increased considerably. He felt his body like he had trained for years.

Bunjiro's tree demon looked like a fighting demon, that is, one of those demons that would rather fight in place of their tamer than enhance his body.

Its long vines that replaced its arms were robust and strong, and its last attack had made Yoichi realize that the strange trunk demon could braid them to get a stronger 'arm', capable to pierce one of the woods trees.

Unlike it, Bunjiro didn't look like a skilled fighter. Beneath the Heralds' glittering, red armour lay a skinny, untrained body unsuited to hand-to-hand combat.

Around his belt, he had no weapon of any kind, and judging by the awkward way he clenched his fists, he intended to fight that way.

Takuma continued to watch the scene, staying close to his horse. The warrior from Grimbrook, inwardly, was looking forward to witnessing a show of strength from his traveling companion.

This guy doesn't seem like an evil person, looking at him closely, Yoichi thought. However, what he did to Sui is unforgivable. I promised the princess that I would avenge her, and I intend to keep that promise.

Yoichi activated Kenji's basic ability without adding more, letting the black reptilian scales enhance his arms.

The volume of his hands and forearms increased considerably, almost reaching the size of his Oracle.

Since coming out of Therion's vision, even though he hadn't received any messages from the Demon Pet System, the young tamer felt his body much more robust and more resilient.

"Wow," Takuma muttered, looking closely at his companion. He probably had seen other Nekage before, but that enhancement was on a far superior level.

"Grr!" - As Kenji began to growl, its tamer's attention shifted to the enemy demon: two small, almost imperceptible black eyes were embedded in the sides of its mossy bark, and its mouth was much like an octopus' beak.

Bunjiro's demon stretched its upper limbs again, preparing for another ranged attack. The lianas began to twirl in the air dangerously, waiting for Bunjiro's order to attack their target.

Slamming their ends against the ground, they produced a whipping sound.

I might not need draconic fire to defeat this guy, but using it would shorten the battle time, and I could get right back on the road, Yoichi reflected. He was not particularly bothered by his opponent and hoped he would not be late on the schedule.

A simple momentary detour had cost him precious time. Bunjiro had evidently been following him since he left the Dojo in Goldhaven.

"For Kato! Die!" the enemy warrior gave off a battle shout, moving an arm forward and pointing his hand at Yoichi.

Immediately after that gesture, both vine tentacles of the tree demon slashed towards him at high speed.

*swisshh* - Despite the speed of the attack, the lianas' trajectory was predictable enough for Yoichi to calculate their motion pattern.

*slash*boom* - First one and then the other, both lianas missed their target, slamming hard into the ground and creating deep ruts.

Oh shit! I don't remember those vines having this much shear force! Yoichi thought, hurriedly trying to come up with a plan of attack.

He immediately started running forward, swinging his arms as usual and bringing his elbows back and his hands forward.

A few seconds after leaving his previous position, a strange instinct flashed through his brain.

Without thinking too much about it and relying on that almost feral instinct, Yoichi spread his arms, spreading the muscles of his chest and opening the large claws of his hands.

A few moments later, fiery sparks burst from his shoulders and biceps.

I don't... I don't understand. How can I run faster with my arms in this position? It's unnatural! He thought, marvelling at his own actions.

The muscles in his arms were stretched outward, enhancing his next attack. That way, the fire generated in his chest could reach his upper limbs in no time, and his physical strength could be enhanced by the significant leverage his body had created.

Incredibly, relying only on the primal instinct that came from the farthest corners of his soul, Yoichi was running, simulating the flight of a dragon.